The Board found that the Veteran's Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (AML) was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated due to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not establish a connection between AML and service.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided were against the Veteran's claim, stating that there is no positive association between exposure to herbicides and AML, and that the late occurrence of AML in the Veteran does not support a presumption of service connection based on Agent Orange exposure. Other risk factors such as smoking and occupational exposures also contributed to the development of AML.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (AML)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2012
- Citation
- 1226197
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1226197.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death was caused by AML, which the VA Secretary has recognized as a disability that may be related to exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that his AML is at least as likely as not due to such exposure.,Service connection for AML for accrued benefits purposes is granted because the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's AML was caused by exposure to herbicides during service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's AML is related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service. The decision grants service connection for AML.
- Denied
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. However, the Board found no evidence linking AML to military service or herbicide exposure, thus denying the claim.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AML) related to in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot as the grant of service connection already recognizes that the death was from a service-connected disability.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.